The ULTIMATE “Take It Easy” Chords & Guitar Lesson

Glenn Frey sang:

===

Well, I'm runnin' down the road tryna loosen my load

I've got seven women on my mind

Four that wanna own me, two that wanna stone me

One says she's a friend of mine

=== 

Truer words have never been spoken.

Below, I’m going to share with you some insider tips on the guitar style behind this iconic tune.

So grab your axe, and let’s dive into this “Take It Easy” chords and guitar lesson!

Who Wrote Take It Easy? 

“Take It Easy” was originally written by Jackson Browne and Glenn Frey. Browne thought it would be a perfect song for Glenn to sing, so the Eagles first recorded it. “Take It Easy” was released as a single in 1972 and later appeared on their self-titled album Eagles.  

“Take It Easy” has a classic Americana folk-rock sound. The lyrics convey a carefree yet restless narrative. Browne originally started drafting the song but got stuck. Glenn Frey, who lived upstairs from him at the time, finished it by adding the unforgettable “flatbed Ford” lines. 

The recording of the Eagles’ version was done at Olympic Sound Studios in London, under producer Glyn Johns. The track featured Glenn Frey on lead vocals and acoustic guitar, Bernie Leadon on lead guitar and backing vocals, Randy Meisner on bass and vocals, and Don Henley on drums and vocals. 

Upon its release, “Take It Easy” reached number 12 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, immediately establishing the Eagles as a major force in rock and country-rock. 

Over the years, it’s become one of the band’s most signature songs, appearing on virtually every compilation and live set. The song is also included in the list of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s 500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll.

Another interesting note is that a year later, Jackson Browne released his own rendition in 1973 on his album For Everyman. 

Now, you may be wondering…

What is the tuning for Take It Easy

The tuning for "Take It Easy” is standard tuning. Standard tuning is spelled: E, A, D, G, B, and E.  

Here are the strings:

• E (6th string, lowest pitch)
• A (5th string)
• D (4th string)
• G (3rd string)
• B (2nd string)
• E (1st string, highest pitch)

All right! 

Now that you know the tuning for “Take It Easy,” let’s next talk about…

Take It Easy Chords

To play “Take It Easy”, you’ll need to know 7 main chords they are G, C/G, D7sus4, D, Em, Am, and F. These chords are going to be a mix of open chords and bar chords. If bar chords are giving you all kinds of aches and pains, and you haven’t yet discovered how to play them effortlessly, go here: https://www.jonmaclennan.com/barchords

Let’s take a look at a few ways these shapes might show up on the fretboard.

G is played in a folk-style like this:

C/G is a classic shape to switch to after the G. I play it like this:

D7sus4 has a beautiful open sound. This one is played from the 4th string down like so:

D is also played from the 4th string down like this:

Em is a huge-sounding chord using all 6 strings like this:

Am is played from the 5th string down like so:

Finally, F is played as a bar chord in 1st position and uses all 6 strings like this:

If you’ve struggled to understand the fretboard for RHYTHM and LEAD guitar, and want to discover the easiest and fastest way. Then get your hands on my free Fretboard Guide PDF right here now:  

Is Take It Easy hard to play on guitar?

I would say playing “Take It Easy” on guitar is going to require an intermediate skill level. The chords themselves are not too difficult. However, the trickiest parts are playing the rhythmic syncopations at the top of the song, remembering the subtle chord variations from verse to verse, and also keeping the rhythm driving throughout. So, take your time with this one. 

What key is Take It Easy in?

“Take It Easy”, as recorded by the Eagles, is in the key of G major. The primary scale would be the G major scale, which is built using the notes G, A, B, C, D, E, and F#.

Let’s take a closer look at how all these chords relate in the key of G major. Starting with…

G (G major)

Notes: G, B, D

Function: This is the I chord, the tonic of the key. It’s the “home” chord. All the other chords revolve around this one.

C/G (C major over G in the bass)

Notes: C, E, G (with G as the lowest note)

Function: This is the IV chord in G major, but with the fifth of the chord (G) in the bass. Functionally it still behaves like IV, giving a lift and gentle pull away from the tonic. The slash bass creates a smoother, more anchored movement when switching between G and C which is heard at the top of the song.

D7sus4 (D dominant seventh suspended fourth)

Notes: D, G, A, C

Function: This is a variation of the V7 chord in G major. The “sus4” replaces the F# (the third) with a G, which gives the chord a suspended, unresolved tension. This sets up the band at the top of the song as well.

D (D major)

Notes: D, F#, A

Function: This is the V chord in G major. It creates forward motion and tension that resolves naturally back to the tonic G. The D chord is the primary driver of harmonic movement in the key.

Em (E minor)

Notes: E, G, B

Function: This is the vi chord in G major, the relative minor. It shares two notes with the G chord. This makes movement between the two feel smooth and natural. Em works beautifully as a softer, more melancholic substitute for the tonic. 

Am (A minor)

Notes: A, C, E

Function: This is the ii chord in the key of G major or the supertonic. 

F (F major)

Notes: F, A, C

Function: This is the one chord in the song that does not naturally fit into the diatonic key of G major. In G major, an F major chord is a flat-VII (♭VII). This chord is extremely common in rock and blues. 

Together, these chords make up some of the most common sets of chords in popular music. Millions of songs use them…

All right!

That’s my theory breakdown. 

Next, let’s look at…

What is the strumming pattern for Take It Easy?

The main underlying groove for “Take It Easy” is a country/folk rock groove. The primary rhythm throughout is an 8th note rhythm. In 4/4 time, 8th notes divide each beat into two equal parts, creating a driving, steady flow like this: 

1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &

The numbers (1, 2, 3, 4) represent the main beats in the measure, while the "&" represents the offbeats that add energy and momentum.

When counted out loud, it sounds like:

"One-and, Two-and, Three-and, Four-and."

Conclusion

To wrap it up, “Take It Easy” is a beautiful collaboration between Jackson Browne and Glenn Frey. It’s a classic song to know, and it’s become one of the Eagles' most iconic tunes.

Keep practicing, and if you want to learn songs way faster, better understand the fretboard for lead and rhythm, and not waste years spinning your wheels with guitar, grab my free fretboard guide here right now: 

Jon MacLennan